Doctors Prescribe Nature Time to Boost Wellbeing

Call it a new kind of medical advice: find a shady tree, breathe deeply, and return tomorrow.

Across the United States, doctors are increasingly prescribing time outdoors as part of treatment plans, as stress from social media, politics, and global conflict continues to affect Americans’ mental and physical health.

While no one needs a doctor’s note to go outside, some physicians believe a written prescription helps patients treat the advice as a priority rather than a luxury.

“When I bring it up, it’s almost like granting permission to do something they may think is frivolous at a time when everything feels serious and stressful,” said Dr Suzanne Hackenmiller, a gynaecologist from Waterloo, Iowa, who began prescribing nature after finding solace outdoors following her husband’s death.

Research consistently shows that time in natural surroundings can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost the immune system.

“Study after study says we’re wired to be out in nature,” said Dr Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic’s complementary and integrative medicine programme. “There’s real science behind it.”

The idea of formal “nature prescriptions” gained momentum about a decade ago. In 2016, Dr Robert Zarr, a physician and certified nature guide, founded Park Rx America to help doctors integrate outdoor activities into treatment plans.

Providers discuss patients’ interests, nearby parks, and available time before writing a “nature prescription,” followed by reminders to encourage participation.

Nearly 2,000 healthcare providers around the world — including in Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, and Spain — have joined Park Rx America. More than 7,000 nature prescriptions have been issued since 2019, said Dr Stacy Beller Stryer, the group’s associate medical director. Around 100 similar programmes now operate across the United States.

Bauer, who treats business executives, said he writes about 30 nature prescriptions each year. “When someone hands me a piece of paper telling me to take a medication, I’m more likely to act on it,” he said. “The same idea works here.”

Hackenmiller said more patients are seeking relief from an overwhelming world.

“When so many things are out of our control, it helps to step away from the media and immerse ourselves in nature,” she said. “People often reconnect with moments when nature brought them peace before.”

A 2020 study by the US Forest Service and university researchers found more evidence is needed to measure how often patients follow through and what long-term benefits result. Still, experts agree that spending time outdoors is beneficial — as long as conditions like smoke or insects do not pose a risk.

At William & Mary University in Virginia, students can even prescribe outdoor time to fellow students through an online system. Participants note when they can go outside, how far they are willing to travel, and which activities they prefer. The programme issued an average of 22 prescriptions per month in 2025, up from 12 in 2020.

Senior Kelsey Wakiyama, from Pennsylvania, said she relied on nature prescriptions after arriving on campus and learning about nearby trails.

“I love the greenery,” she said. “When you’re indoors for hours, the fresh air feels incredible. It calms my nervous system and brings back good memories.”